Community Asthma Initiative to Improve Health Outcomes and Reduce Disparities Among Children with Asthma

Asthma, one of the most common chronic illnesses in the United States, has reached historically high national prevalence rates (i.e., 9.5% for children aged ≤18 years) (1,2). Furthermore, racial/ethnic disparities in asthma prevalence are substantial (1,2). Evidence from national randomized clinical trials (3–6), previous models of culturally sensitive care (6–9), and National Asthma Education and Prevention Program 2007 guidelines (10) indicates that comprehensive community-based approaches are highly effective in reducing environmental allergens, missed school days, and emergency department (ED) visits, as well as increasing symptom-free days. The Guide to Community Preventive Services also recommends home-based education and interventions to reduce home environmental triggers of asthma, as well as asthma education and social supports to improve outcomes for children with asthma (11,12). Quality improvement evaluation approaches have been developed that can monitor multifactorial interventions to improve outcomes such as ED visits and hospitalizations for asthma (13) that are consistent with the national guidelines (10). All levels of the socioecological model, including interventions involving individual persons, communities, and systems (e.g., health care payment reform to allow for sustainable funding for programs such as CAI), are essential for improving health outcomes (14,15). Community Asthma Initiative to Improve Health Outcomes and Reduce Disparities Among Children with Asthma